The Best Non-Holiday-Themed Films:
If it’s spy action you’re looking for, the holiday season presents two offerings: “Casino Royale” and “The Good Shepherd.” “Casino Royale” gives the Bond franchise a shot in the arm with a new actor (?Munich’s? Daniel Craig) playing 007 in the super-spy’s early days, based on the first of Ian Fleming’s Bond tales. “The Good Shepherd” stars Matt Damon and Robert De Niro as CIA agents during the Cold War in this epic film based on a true story. The movie features a powerhouse-supporting cast as well, including Angelina Jolie, Alec Baldwin, William Hurt, Joe Pesci and John Turturro. De Niro also directs. “Casino Royale” opens November 17 and “The Good Shepherd” on December 22.
The highly anticipated film version of the stage musical “Dreamgirls” arrives just in time for the holidays, and early buzz has been very positive.
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The film chronicles the rise to fame of a black female singing trio in the 1960s who try to crossover to the white music charts, and is chock full of soul-stirring musical numbers. |
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Beyonce Knowles headlines a powerful cast, which also includes Jamie Foxx, Eddie Murphy and ?American Idol’s? Jennifer Hudson in her film debut. “Dreamgirls” opens in limited release on December 15, and goes into wide release on Christmas Day.
“Happy Feet” is an animated family film hoping to capitalize on the success of last year’s “March of the Penguins,” although this is certainly not a documentary. “Happy Feet” is a musical adventure about a young tap-dancing penguin who?s exiled from his home for being too “different.” As he wanders, he finds some friends who show him what life’s all about and what it means to be special. Featuring the voices of Savion Glover, Elijah Wood, Robin Williams, Brittany Murphy, and Hugh Jackman, “Happy Feet” is sure to please both the kids and the adults this holiday season. Opens November 17.
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Another family film hits theaters for the holidays — one well known to anyone with children. “Charlotte’s Web” is the film adaptation of the wildly popular story by E.B. White, about a pig named Wilbur who befriends a spider named Charlotte. The spider, along with other animals on the farm, attempts to save Wilbur from facing the butcher’s block. |
Combining live-action with animation (much like pig film predecessor “Babe”), “Charlotte’s Web” features Dakota Fanning as Wilbur’s human friend Fern, and a multitude of character voices provided by Julia Roberts, Oprah Winfrey, John Cleese, Robert Redford, Kathy Bates and many other big Hollywood stars. Opens December 20.
Mel Gibson returns with another epic film — “Apocalypto.” Written, produced and directed by Gibson, “Apocalypto” tells the story of the Mayan empire facing its decline, with the rulers insisting that the key to prosperity is to build more temples and offer human sacrifices. Jaguar Paw (newcomer Rudy Youngblood), a young man chosen for sacrifice, flees the kingdom to avoid his fate. Filmed entirely in an ancient obscure language, Gibson gambles on reaching a wide audience with this labor of love. Opens December 8.
Another movie star who writes and directs a film this year is Emilio Estevez with his ensemble drama “Bobby.” Demi Moore, Lindsay Lohan, Anthony Hopkins, Sharon Stone and Laurence Fishburne gather to recount the day Robert Kennedy was assassinated.
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The film mixes real-life events with fictionalized accounts of that dark day in our nation’s history. “Bobby” opens in limited release on November 17, and goes wide one week later on November 22. |
Director Ridley Scott reunites with Russell Crowe for the romantic dramedy, “A Good Year.” Crowe plays a tough-as-nails London investment whiz who inherits a French vineyard. As he settles in to his new home, life, love and potential happiness pay him a visit. Veteran actor Albert Finney and rising star Abbie Cornish co-star. Opens November 10th.
Will Ferrell stars as a meek, lonely tax auditor who realizes that his life is being narrated by a disembodied voice in the quiet, sober comedy “Stranger Than Fiction.” This film is a bit of a departure for Ferrell, who audiences know primarily for his roles in broad comedies. Emma Thompson stars as the voice of the narrator, with Maggie Gyllenhaal, Dustin Hoffman and Queen Latifah in supporting roles. Opens November 10.
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